Police: 4 people shot in southeast Fresno

Police cars at the scene of a shooting in southeast Fresno. Jim GuyThe Fresno Bee

Police cars at the scene of a shooting in southeast Fresno. Jim GuyThe Fresno Bee

A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after he and three other people were shot Friday afternoon in southeast Fresno, police report. (Fresno police initially reported incorrectly that the boy was 12 years old.)

The shooting took place shortly after 1 p.m. in the 4700 block of East Montecito Avenue, near Chestnut and Ventura avenues. Capt. Anthony Martinez said the three other victims are another 16-year-old boy and two men, 28 and 48 years old. All were rushed to Community Regional Medical Center. A man who carried a dog from the home shortly after police arrived also said the dog was wounded in the chest by a bullet.

Martinez said three of the victims were shot outside a home on the northwest corner of Montecito and Recreation Avenues and a fourth was hit by bullet which penetrated a wall. After the shooting, a 16-year-old ran from the scene and was found a block west of the incident. Martinez said he may have run because of a prior incident involving police.

The gunman was identified as a white male with visible tattoos who fled in a blue Chrysler four-door, possibly a Sebring. Police were searching for a motive for the shooting and did not immediately know if the violence was gang-related.